Narrative:

Inbound crew deplaned airplane.... All 4 flight attendants. As they walked up the jet bridge they said we have 1 through passenger. Which I replied 'on the airplane? Now?' the other crew replied yes. I asked; is there a flight attendant on board? The other crew said; no and continued to walk up the jet bridge. As our crew tried to board; catering had brought carts from the aft of the airplane. There were 2 large carts in the entry door way. 2 carts in the aisle and carts out of the housing in the galley being moved around and catered. I told catering to move the cart that we needed to board the airplane. They replied; in just a few minutes we are catering from the back of the airplane. I told them a passenger was on board and we needed to get on. It took several minutes for them to move the carts in a way that the number 2 hopped on and stood at the bulk head to monitor the cabin while catering continued to move carts and re-cater the 1st class galley from the back of the airplane. Several more minutes before the rest of the crew could board. Number 2 deplaned and grabbed her luggage and boarded. Passenger was on the plane 3-5 minutes with no crew on the airplane. Notified captain.inbound crew never should have deplaned until at least 1 outbound crew member was on board. Inbound crew did not follow procedure. Catering should not move carts or attempt to cater until crew exchange has been completed if they are going to cater the front of the airplane from the back. All through passengers should be made to deplane if inbound crew does not follow procedures.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 Flight Attendant reported a through passenger was left in the cabin with no flight attendants on board.

Narrative: Inbound crew deplaned airplane.... all 4 flight attendants. As they walked up the jet bridge they said we have 1 through passenger. Which I replied 'on the airplane? NOW?' The other crew replied yes. I asked; is there a flight attendant on board? The other crew said; no and continued to walk up the jet bridge. As our crew tried to board; catering had brought carts from the aft of the airplane. There were 2 large carts in the entry door way. 2 carts in the aisle and carts out of the housing in the galley being moved around and catered. I told catering to move the cart that we needed to board the airplane. They replied; in just a few minutes we are catering from the back of the airplane. I told them a passenger was on board and we needed to get on. It took several minutes for them to move the carts in a way that the number 2 hopped on and stood at the bulk head to monitor the cabin while catering continued to move carts and re-cater the 1st class galley from the back of the airplane. Several more minutes before the rest of the crew could board. Number 2 deplaned and grabbed her luggage and boarded. Passenger was on the plane 3-5 minutes with no crew on the airplane. Notified captain.Inbound crew never should have deplaned until at least 1 outbound crew member was on board. Inbound crew did not follow procedure. Catering should not move carts or attempt to cater until crew exchange has been completed if they are going to cater the front of the airplane from the back. All through passengers should be made to deplane if inbound crew does not follow procedures.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.